Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Negotiations to develop an International Treaty on Plastic Pollution

Rebecca Pow: The annual flow of plastic into the ocean is predicted to triple between 2016 and 2040 and is already having a devastating impact on our natural environment. We urgently need to take action at all levels on plastic pollution, in all its forms. That is why the UK is tackling the issue both internationally and at home.Today marks the start of the third session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee to develop an international legally binding instrument on plastic pollution, established by a landmark decision taken at the United Nations Environment Assembly in March 2022.At the negotiations, the Government will press for a combination of international obligations and national measures across the whole plastic lifecycle to ensure that the Treaty can adequately address the transboundary nature of plastic pollution. We will call for provisions to: restrain and reduce the production and consumption of plastic to sustainable levels; address plastic design; and increase the safe circularity of plastics in the economy, guided by the waste hierarchy. We will support measures to manage plastic waste in an environmentally sound and safe manner and eliminate the release of plastics (including microplastics) to air, water and land.As one of the founding members of the High Ambition Coalition to End Plastic Pollution, a group of like-minded countries calling for an ambitious and effective treaty, the UK has signed the High Ambition Coalition Joint Ministerial Statement which echoes these calls.We are committed to working with other member states to build consensus, calling for a Chair’s mandate to develop further the Treaty text, supported by a formal intersessional programme of work, to lay the foundation for a successful outcome from the two remaining negotiating sessions in 2024.

Cabinet Office

Update on Government Reform

Jeremy Quin: Today we have published in full the Independent Review of Governance and Accountability in the Civil Service. This Review was commissioned in July 2022 and was led by the Rt Hon Lord Maude of Horsham.The Government is committed to ensuring we are best placed to take long term decisions, and implement them for the British people. Our reform agenda is rooted in the principles set out in the Declaration of Government Reform, which envisaged the Independent Review on Accountability. In a speech I gave at Policy Exchange in July, I updated our reform agenda reflecting my renewed focus on people, place, and technology.Lord Maude’s proposals aim to improve efficiency, clarify accountabilities, and change structures in the Civil Service. There are some issues highlighted in the Review on which the Government is proud of action already underway. For example, we have introduced a training programme for ministers; we are undertaking a review of the 125 most significant public bodies to improve efficiency and performance; and we are strengthening the process to identify new chairs and board members of public bodies to develop and support a strong pipeline of candidates.However, a number of long-term recommendations, if implemented now, would serve to detract from the focus on the Prime Minister’s five critical priorities. For example, we will not take forward the recommendation for a significant restructure of the machinery of central Government or alter the role of Cabinet Secretary.This is a welcome contribution and we will now consider the recommendations carefully and respond in due course. In the meantime, I have requested that a copy of the Review be deposited in the libraries of the Houses of Parliament.

Publication of Public Sector Fraud Authority (PSFA) Annual Report 2022/23

Jeremy Quin: The Minister of State, Baroness Neville-Rolfe DBE CMG, has today made the following statement:Fraud against the public sector is a crime that impacts us all. Unfortunately the public sector is just as affected by this hidden crime as other sectors. It affects the quality and quantity of public services as every pound stolen by fraudsters is one pound less spent on vital public services, such as schools or hospitals or on reducing the burden of tax.The Government is committed to tackling fraudsters head on. The Prime Minister in his previous position as Chancellor, announced in the March 2022 Spring Statement £24.7 million of funding over 3 years for the establishment and building of a new counter fraud authority: the Public Sector Fraud Authority (PSFA) was launched in August 2022.In its first year, the PSFA set 21 objectives which are published in the 2022/23 ‘Building For Success’ document available at GOV.UK. The PSFA is today publishing its Annual Report which outlines the progress and performance of the PSFA in 2022/23. This includes meeting 20 of the published objectives and surpassing its savings target of £180 million in audited benefits, delivering savings of £311 million for the public in 2022/23. The PSFA has also partnered with Quantexa and Deloitte using cutting edge technology to fight fraud, as well as hosting the International Public Sector Fraud Forum, inviting our Five Eyes allies to the Imperial War Museum to share expertise in this vital area.The annual report will be available on GOV.UK and copies will be placed in the libraries of both Houses in Parliament.

Ministry of Defence

Service Family Accommodation and Winter Planning

James Cartlidge: Last December, my predecessor responded to an Urgent Question in the House about the poor state of Service Family Accommodation and the performance of Ministry of Defence accommodation maintenance contractors, particularly over the winter period[1]. Lessons were learned and action is being taken. The purpose of this Statement is to inform you of the steps that the Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO) and its contractors have taken and continue to take, to ensure they are prepared for winter this year. Improving the level of service for families living in Service Family Accommodation continues to be a priority for myself and fellow ministers in the Department. We will continue to improve our service accommodation across the UK by offering modern, energy efficient homes which are good for the environment and cost-effective for service families. As winter approaches, the Defence Infrastructure Organisation’s Director of Accommodation has written to all service families living in Service Family Accommodation to inform them of the provisions being put in place to ensure the Defence Infrastructure Organisation and its contractors are fully prepared, and able to provide the right level of service for families over the colder months, recognising the challenges faced last winter. The Defence Infrastructure Organisation has received an investment of £400M over this financial year and next as part of the recently announced Defence Command Paper 2023. This means that funding in the current financial year for maintenance and improvements will have more than doubled from around £160M to around £380M. This investment will be spent on improving the preparation of homes for service families to move into; treating and preventing damp and mould and improving the thermal efficiency of homes; and refurbishing empty homes for reoccupation by service families in areas where demand is highest. Specifically, this financial year the Defence Infrastructure Organisation will: Increase funding for the routine preparation of homes ready for Move In, ensuring they are prepared to a high standard. Fund damp and mould mitigation packages for around 4,000 families who currently have a damp and mould report raised, representing around 60% of all properties requiring such work. These standardised packages will include increasing insulation, replacing guttering, upgrading extractor fans, and resealing windows and doors. Fund further and more substantial damp and mould prevention works, encompassing everything from replacement doors and windows to full thermal upgrades which include new doors, windows, roofs and the installation of external wall insulation. Thermal upgrades will not only reduce the vulnerability of homes to damp and mould but will also reduce the cost of heating homes for service families and reduce the carbon footprint of the estate. Fund extensive, high-quality refurbishments of around 1,000 long-term empty Service Family Accommodation to make them available. Fund the replacement of kitchens and bathrooms which will benefit more than 1,000 homes. Fund boiler and heating upgrades for around 1,500 homes. In the last 12 months, 423 modern homes have been purchased for service families across the UK in a £173M deal, as part of the Defence Infrastructure Organisation’s Capital Purchase Programme. The Capital Purchase Programme works in partnership with major developers to identify where there is a need for family accommodation and determine the best way of delivering high-quality, energy efficient homes. The Defence Infrastructure Organisation has agreed to purchase a further 176 new homes over the next three years in a £78M deal. The Defence Infrastructure Organisation has published communications on both Gov.uk and Defence Connect on the Damp and Mould programme of works being undertaken across the Service Family Accommodation estate. This includes information and Frequently Asked Questions on what families can expect from the works. Pinnacle, the National Accommodation Management contractor, has also published a guide for families on condensation, damp and mould prevention. In preparation for winter, the Defence Infrastructure Organisation has been working collaboratively with its contractors to establish robust contingency plans to not only cope with severe weather events, but to ensure services can recover quickly to minimise any disruption to families. This includes: Having the right resources in the right place and at the right times as winter progresses.Increasing call handling capacity by 55%, with calls on average being answered within 29 seconds as opposed to around 7 minutes last year.AMEY has increased its resource by 40% since last winter.VIVO has recruited additional out-of-hours staff to ensure urgent repairs are effectively managed over weekends and bank holidays.VIVO has created a Customer Experience team to manage contact with families, and ensure communications are in place for follow-on works.Better availability of parts, including temporary heaters which are distributed across the UK as needed.Using remote technology to help to guide families to resolve simple issues without the need for an engineer callout.Establishing indicators and warnings to enable the Defence Infrastructure Organisation to remain agile in where resource is allocated as the colder months progress.Continuously reviewing and testing suppliers to ensure that planning, resource and stock holding is at the right levels. A collaborative DIO, Pinnacle, Amey and VIVO Rehearsal of Concept drill to test winter preparedness plans against extreme weather scenarios took place on 17 October 2023. All three contractors tested their plans to ensure their resource and stock management could respond appropriately to a surge in repair requests (e.g., from storm damage or frozen pipes) and to the impact of weather on the ability to respond to callouts (e.g., in severe snow and ice). Winter preparedness plans were tested during Storm Babet which impacted parts the UK, predominantly Scotland, on 19 and 20 October and was the first severe storm of the season. The Defence Infrastructure Organisation and all three contractors worked collaboratively to monitor the storm, anticipate the storms impact, and successfully apply severe weather protocols. Additional resource was engaged to manage the predicted uplift in calls (33% increase on 20 October) and ensure all were answered promptly (an average of 58 seconds). Clear communications were issued to manage expectations of Service families with pre-arranged maintenance appointments, and 14 families whose homes were damaged due to flooding, were moved to pre-booked, temporary hotel accommodation to allow assessment of the damage. In addition, the Defence Infrastructure Organisation, Pinnacle, Amey and VIVO have collectively produced a proactive winter communications plan. A winter safety leaflet has been developed which is held on Pinnacle’s website and is being distributed when contractors attend appointments at families’ homes. Winter safety messaging is also being included on social media to ensure families are aware of the steps they can take to keep their homes safe this winter.[1] Service Family Accommodation – Commons Urgent Question in the House of Lords at 2.18pm, 21 December 2022